Apparatus and method for presentation of in-store visualizations and/or supply of products to customers

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying a first shopper who has entered a store. A first layout is generated for a group of display screens situated along a route to display respective visualizations. First movement of the first shopper is detected from motion data at a first location proximal to a first one of the group of display screens. In response to the detected first movement, a first visualization is provided on the first one of the group of display screens. Second movement of the shopper is detected at a second location, different from the first location, and proximal to a second one of the group of display screens. In response to the detected second movement, a second visualization, different from the first visualization, is provided on the second one of the group of display screens. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/589,979, filed Oct. 1, 2019, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to an apparatus and method forpresentation of in-store visualizations and/or supply of products tocustomers.

BACKGROUND

Certain aspects of a conventional in-store shopping experience areimproving (e.g., AMAZON GO) but such conventional in-store shoppingexperiences are not necessarily personalized. In addition, in certaincircumstances, the available amount of conventional in-store retailspace is shrinking, but such space is often used inefficiently for thecustomers that the space serves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a communication network in accordance with various aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a process functioning within the communication network ofFIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a process functioning within the communication network ofFIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2C is a plan view illustrating an example store layout associatedwith route/path/location planning and product supply of an embodiment.

FIG. 2D depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordancewith various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2E depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordancewith various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2F depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordancewith various aspects described herein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a virtualized communication network in accordance withvarious aspects described herein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of amobile network platform in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acommunication device in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for presentation of in-store visualizations and/or supply ofproducts to customers. Other embodiments are described in the subjectdisclosure.

As described herein, various embodiments provide mechanisms via whichneeds and/or wants of users can be responded to more quickly. This canbe accomplished, for example, through the use of knowledge ofcustomer(s), knowledge of product(s) and/or availability of other items.

As described herein, various embodiments provide mechanisms foradvertising (e.g., product advertising) that is presented in thephysical world (e.g., that is presented at an in-store retail venue).

As described herein, various embodiments provide mechanisms for dynamicstocking of retail stores (e.g., real-time placement of products onstore shelves).

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a communication network 100 inaccordance with various aspects described herein. For example,communication network 100 can facilitate in whole or in partpresentation of in-store visualizations and/or supply of products tocustomers as described herein. In particular, a communications network125 is presented for providing broadband access 110 to a plurality ofdata terminals 114 via access terminal 112, wireless access 120 to aplurality of mobile devices 124 and vehicle 126 via base station oraccess point 122, voice access 130 to a plurality of telephony devices134, via switching device 132 and/or media access 140 to a plurality ofaudio/video display devices 144 via media terminal 142. In addition,communication network 125 is coupled to one or more content sources 175of audio, video, graphics, text and/or other media. While broadbandaccess 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130 and media access 140are shown separately, one or more of these forms of access can becombined to provide multiple access services to a single client device(e.g., mobile devices 124 can receive media content via media terminal142, data terminal 114 can be provided voice access via switching device132, and so on).

The communications network 125 includes a plurality of network elements(NE) 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. for facilitating the broadband access 110,wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or thedistribution of content from content sources 175. The communicationsnetwork 125 can include a circuit switched or packet switched network, avoice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network, Internet protocol (IP)network, a cable network, a passive or active optical network, a 4G, 5G,or higher generation wireless access network, WIMAX network,UltraWideband network, personal area network or other wireless accessnetwork, a broadcast satellite network and/or other communicationsnetwork.

In various embodiments, the access terminal 112 can include a digitalsubscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), cable modem terminationsystem (CMTS), optical line terminal (OLT) and/or other access terminal.The data terminals 114 can include personal computers, laptop computers,netbook computers, tablets or other computing devices along with digitalsubscriber line (DSL) modems, data over coax service interfacespecification (DOCSIS) modems or other cable modems, a wireless modemsuch as a 4G, 5G, or higher generation modem, an optical modem and/orother access devices.

In various embodiments, the base station or access point 122 can includea 4G, 5G, or higher generation base station, an access point thatoperates via an 802.11 standard such as 802.11n, 802.11ac or otherwireless access terminal. The mobile devices 124 can include mobilephones, e-readers, tablets, phablets, wireless modems, and/or othermobile computing devices.

In various embodiments, the switching device 132 can include a privatebranch exchange or central office switch, a media services gateway, VoIPgateway or other gateway device and/or other switching device. Thetelephony devices 134 can include traditional telephones (with orwithout a terminal adapter), VoIP telephones and/or other telephonydevices.

In various embodiments, the media terminal 142 can include a cablehead-end or other TV head-end, a satellite receiver, gateway or othermedia terminal 142. The display devices 144 can include televisions withor without a set top box, personal computers and/or other displaydevices.

In various embodiments, the content sources 175 include broadcasttelevision and radio sources, video on demand platforms and streamingvideo and audio services platforms, one or more content data networks,data servers, web servers and other content servers, and/or othersources of media.

In various embodiments, the communications network 125 can includewired, optical and/or wireless links and the network elements 150, 152,154, 156, etc. can include service switching points, signal transferpoints, service control points, network gateways, media distributionhubs, servers, firewalls, routers, edge devices, switches and othernetwork nodes for routing and controlling communications traffic overwired, optical and wireless links as part of the Internet and otherpublic networks as well as one or more private networks, for managingsubscriber access, for billing and network management and for supportingother network functions.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, an example process 2000 according to anembodiment will be described. This example process will be describedprimarily in connection with customer 2001 (of course, the process canbe carried out for any desired number of customers, each beingassociated with their own corresponding profiles, lists and history). Asseen, customer 2001 has associated therewith a profile, lists andhistory. When customer 2001 enters a store, the customer 2001 is trackedvisually and/or via electronic location tracking. In various specificexamples, the tracking can be via passive identification and/orauthentication (e.g., facial recognition, biometrics, etc.). Theplanning portion of this process (see element 2003) can comprise aninterest match, route planning and one or more social recommendations.In one example, the planning portion of this process can utilize theprofile, lists and/or history of customer 2001. In one example, theplanning portion of this process can operate via query. In one example,the planning portion of this process can populate an immediate need asfollows: (1) resolve preferences of most proximal person; (2) usetypical shopping list as starting point for helping people to startshopping; (3) blend the stocking needs of multiple users forstore-layout optimization and kiosk presentation; and/or (4) integrateshopping list that people have included to lead users on a “journey” ofdifferent shelves.

Still referring to FIG. 2A, the shopping portion of this process (seeelement 2005) follows the planning portion of the process. As seen, theshopping portion of this process can comprise product blending, gesturereactions and targeted recommendation. In one example, the shoppingportion of this process can utilize the profile, lists and/or history ofcustomer 2001. In one example, the shopping portion of this process canfacilitate visualization of a virtual item in nearby shelves as follows:(1) connect to one or more augmented reality (AR) devices of customer2001 and/or use kiosk-based visualizations (e.g., simulations); (2) formore interactions with an object, can extend to virtual reality (VR)and/or haptic feedback/exploration; (3) integrate with camera/gazedetection to determine what the user is inspecting on object to allowsituational comparison of items in category; (4) enable gestures (suchas via one or more user interfaces) to “swipe” to different set of itemsand/or filters; zoom and explore AR space with kiosk screen usage. Invarious examples, different kiosks can have different mixed realitycapabilities (e.g., smell (e.g., in the context of a bakery), feel,taste, heat, etc.). In various examples, situational advertisements(e.g., based on a location of a user) can be included in one or morekiosks. In one example, in addition to (or instead of) advertisements,informational information (such as how a product would work/operate) canbe provided.

Still referring to FIG. 2A, the transactions portion of this process(see element 2007) follows the shopping portion of the process. As seen,the transactions portion of this process can comprise productdemonstration (e.g., visual, auditory, olfactory and/or haptic) and/orpurchase confirmation. In one example, the transactions portion of theprocess can comprise physical items being populated from back-officeinto a shelf as follows: (1) if available in stock the item is deliveredto the location of customer 2001; (2) if the item is in a differentstore, the item can be transmitted via tactile interaction technology.In one example, customer 2001 can replace an item (that has previouslybeen removed by customer 2001 from a kiosk/shelf) back to anykiosk/shelf in order for the item to be deducted from the bill ofcustomer 2001. In another example, computer vision can be utilized thattracks customer 2001 picking up item, when customer 2001 leaves a kioskarea and/or when customer 2001 has picked up final bundled item uponcompletion. In one example, tactile interactions with an object can besimulated with a generic object core with a soft, deformable shell thatis extruded or retracted by pneumatic motors within the object's shell.In another example, only one side of the product may be interactable ata time such that the user perceives the “back side” of an object (seeRetroShape: Leveraging Rear-Surface Shape Displays for 2.5D Interactionon Smartwatches). In yet another example, force feedback and micro-powerelectric shocks may be utilized in a wearable (e.g. a glove, sock,shirt, hat, etc.) and used as a mechanism for sending tactileimpressions to the user that correspond to the textures on a display orpresented in a virtual or augmented reality system.

Still referring to FIG. 2A, the fulfillment portion of this process (seeelement 2009) follows the transactions portion of this process. As seen,the fulfillment portion of this process can comprise auto order assemblyand/or delivery. In one example, the fulfillment portion of this processcan comprise: (1) purchase realization with actual product (on site)and/or purchase triggers commerce delivery to car/home/etc.; (2) itemsdelivered to a single package (box, bag, etc.) that is optimally packedas user is walking towards exit of store; and/or (3) federatedfulfillment opportunities to other vendors to collect items. In oneexample, the fulfillment process can be in real-time. In one example,the fulfillment process can utilize 3D printing.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, an example process 2100 according to anembodiment will be described. This example process 2100 will bedescribed primarily in connection with customers A, B, C (of course, theprocess can be carried out for any desired number of customers). As seenat time point (1), customer A enters a retail store. Next, customer A'spreferences are sent to a recommendation engine (see arrow 2101). Next,similarity of intent is computed and clustered by product and location(see arrow 2102). Next, in one scenario, the system guides customer A tokiosk and visualizes option variety (see arrow 2103). Following the sameaction, the system continues to guide the customer A to kiosk andvisualizes option variety in a closer view (see arrow 2104). Optionally,additional guidance, e.g. in step 2103 and/or 2104, may be skipped ifthe user does not need additional detail, is reviewing the item at anadjacent kiosk, or is using a secondary display (XR, a wearable display,a mobile display) directly. Next, the customer experiments with virtualproduct (see arrow 2105). Next, although the sale is not fully completedyet (e.g. a near-sale), certain orchestration components may betriggered that stoke delivery logistics for product location andmovement (see arrow 2106). In addition, it is seen that after customer Aexperiments with virtual product, customer A can request physical demo(see arrow 2107). This experimentation with virtual product can triggera purchase action (see arrow 2108). Responsive to the purchase actionthat is triggered, the product is prepared for in-store completion orhome delivery (see arrow 2109); in addition, the profile for customer Ais updated for future shopping and recommendations (see arrow 2110).Further, the sale can be executed (see arrow 2111).

Still referring to FIG. 2B, as seen at time point (2), customer B entersthe retail store. Next, customer B's preferences are sent to arecommendation engine (see arrow 2112). Next, customer B is sentdirectly to existing kiosk by product similarity (see arrow 2113). Next,customer B continues to browse other products at the same kiosk withinteractive gestures (see arrow 2114). Responsive to the browsing,customer B purchases for home delivery logistics (see arrow 2115); inaddition, the profile for customer B is updated for future shopping andrecommendations (see arrow 2116). Further, the sale can be executed (seearrow 2117).

Still referring to FIG. 2B, in another scenario, customer A begins tostroll to other locations of the store for products (see arrow 2118).Responsive to the strolling (which can be detected via any appropriatedetermination and/or tracking mechanism), the system receives astrolling location update and re-computes one or more recommendations(see arrow 2119). Further, the system guides customer A to a certainkiosk and visualizes option variety (see arrow 2120).

Still referring to FIG. 2B, as seen at time point (3), customer C entersthe retail store. In this scenario, customer C has no existingpreferences, so the system begins profile generation by locationmonitoring and/or by interest monitoring (see arrow 2121). Next, thesystem populates adjacent kiosk(s) with product(s) as customer C strollsto the location(s) of the kiosk(s) (see arrow 2122). In one example, thestrolling can be detected via any appropriate determination and/ortracking mechanism. In one example, the populating of the kiosk(s) cancomprise manual and/or automated delivery of the product(s) to thelocation(s). Next, customer C dwells near customer A (see arrow 2123).Responsive to customer C dwelling near customer A, the system duplicatesthe experience of customer A for customer C at a kiosk available tocustomer C (see arrow 2124). Next, customer C triggers a purchase (seearrow 2125). Responsive to the purchase that is triggered, in-storefulfillment is deferred as inventory from an alternate location is sentto the home of customer C (see arrow 2126); in addition, the profile forcustomer C is updated for future shopping and recommendations (see arrow2127). Further, the sale can be executed (see arrow 2128).

Referring now to FIG. 2C, a diagram 2200 related to an example processaccording to an embodiment will be described. This diagram 2200 shows anexample plan view of a retail store 2201. The entrance/exit of the store2201 is shown as 2203. In this example, there are eight shelving units1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B. Various planning mechanisms as describedherein can be used to plan customer routes through the store. In thisexample, a route for customer A is shown by the dash-dot line. Thisdash-dot line runs from the entrance to position “A”, then to position“B” then to position “C” then to position “D”, then to the exit.Further, in this example, a route for customer B is shown by the dottedline. This dotted line runs from the entrance to position “E”, then toposition “F” then to position “G” then to position “D”, then to theexit.

Still referring to FIG. 2C, various mechanisms described herein can beused to provide to customer A one or more visualizations (e.g.,advertisements, informational presentations) along the route planned forcustomer A (e.g., a respective visualization at each of positions “A”,“B”, “C”, “D”). In another example, various mechanisms described hereincan be used to dynamically supply product for customer A to the variousshelving units at each respective position “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”). In oneexample, movement by customer A to each position (and/or arrival bycustomer A at each position) can be determined via any desired trackingmechanism.

Still referring to FIG. 2C, various mechanisms described herein can beused to provide to customer B one or more visualizations (e.g.,advertisements, informational presentations) along the route planned forcustomer B (e.g., a respective visualization at each of positions “E”,“F”, “G”, “D”). In another example, various mechanisms described hereincan be used to dynamically supply product for customer B to the variousshelving units at each respective position “E”, “F”, “G”, “D”). In oneexample, movement by customer B to each position (and/or arrival bycustomer B at each position) can be determined via any desired trackingmechanism.

Referring now to FIG. 2D, various steps of a method 2300 according to anembodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2D, step 2301 comprisesreceiving information associated with a first shopper of a plurality ofshoppers from a monitoring device monitoring for presence of theplurality of shoppers. Next, step 2302 comprises detecting, according tothe information, entry into a store by the first shopper. Next, step2303 comprises responsive to the detecting the entry into the store bythe first shopper, identifying the first shopper, resulting in a firstidentification. Next, step 2305 comprises generating, based upon thefirst identification, a first layout, the first layout comprising foreach of a plurality of display screens situated along a route arespective visualization to be displayed, each respective visualizationbeing part of a plurality of visualizations. Next, step 2307 comprisesresponsive to receiving first motion data from the monitoring device,detecting first movement by the first shopper to a first location thatis proximal to a first display screen of the plurality of displayscreens. Next, step 2309 comprises responsive to the detecting of thefirst movement by the first shopper to the first location, providing onthe first display screen a first visualization of the plurality ofvisualizations. Next, step 2311 comprises responsive to receiving secondmotion data from the monitoring device, detecting second movement by thefirst shopper to a second location that is different from the firstlocation and that is proximal to a second display screen of theplurality of display screens. Next, step 2313 comprises responsive tothe detecting of the second movement by the first shopper to the secondlocation, providing on the second display screen a second visualizationof the plurality of visualizations, the second visualization beingdifferent from the first visualization.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 2D, itis to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter isnot limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 2E, various steps of a method 2400 according to anembodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2E, step 2401 comprisingreceiving, by a processing system including a processor, informationassociated with a first shopper of a plurality of shoppers from amonitoring device monitoring for presence of the plurality of shoppers.Next step 2402 comprises detecting by the processing system, accordingto the information, that a first shopper has entered into a store. Next,step 2403 comprises responsive to the detecting that the first shopperhas entered into the store, identifying by the processing system thefirst shopper, resulting in a first identification. Next, step 2405comprises generating by the processing system, based upon the firstidentification, a first layout, the first layout comprising for each ofa plurality of locations situated along a route a respectivevisualization to be displayed, each respective visualization being partof a plurality of visualizations. Next, step 2407 comprises responsiveto receiving first motion data from the monitoring device, detecting, bythe processing system, that the first shopper has moved to a firstlocation in the store. Next, step 2409 comprises responsive to thedetecting that the first shopper has moved to the first location,providing by the processing system to a first mobile device of the firstshopper a first visualization of the plurality of visualizations. Next,step 2411 comprises responsive to receiving second motion data from themonitoring device, detecting, by the processing system, that the firstshopper has moved to a second location in the store, the second locationbeing different from the first location. Next, step 2413 comprisesresponsive to the detecting that the first shopper has moved to thesecond location, providing by the processing system to the first mobiledevice of the first shopper a second visualization of the plurality ofvisualizations.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 2E, itis to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter isnot limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 2F, various steps of a method 2500 according to anembodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2F, step 2501 comprisesreceiving information associated with a first shopper of a plurality ofshoppers from a monitoring device monitoring for presence of theplurality of shoppers. Next, step 2502 comprises determining, accordingto the information, a first identity of a first shopper who has enteredinto a store, resulting in a first identification. Next, step 2503comprises generating, based upon the first identification, a firststocking plan, the first stocking plan comprising for each of aplurality of areas along a route a respective product of a plurality ofproducts that is to be dynamically made available. Next, step 2505comprises responsive to receiving first motion data from the monitoringdevice, determining that the first shopper is moving to a first area ofthe plurality of areas. Next, step 2507 comprises responsive to thedetermining that the first shopper is moving to the first area,dynamically providing in the first area a first product of the pluralityof products. Next, step 2509 comprises responsive to receiving secondmotion data from the monitoring device, determining that the firstshopper is moving to a second area of the plurality of areas, the secondarea being different from the first area. Next, step 2511 comprisesresponsive to the determining that the first shopper is moving to thesecond area, dynamically providing in the second area a second productof the plurality of products, the second product being different fromthe first product.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 2F, itis to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter isnot limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

As described herein, various embodiments provide a system (andassociated methods) to marry supply chain and retail experience usingin-person product recommendations.

As described herein, various embodiments provide for one or more of thefollowing: (1) in-store shopping experience that is driven by marketrecommendations and/or by local shopping habits of current customersin-store (in one specific example, one or more items can dynamically bepopulated at (e.g., dynamically delivered to) one or more kiosks); (2a)using artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning (ML), guidecustomers with unrelated needs to potential buy opportunities (e.g. acustomer came in to a store shopping for wallet/accessories, butprogrammatic placement of kiosk advertising and/or programmaticplacement of one or more physical items puts other apparel adjacent to(and/or in the line of sight of) the customer); (2b) opportunisticsocialization for enhanced marketing—for instance, with gradual blendingof similar interests at a location, users may peer select to purchaseitems not previously consumed; (3a) inventory display and management issimplified—for instance, virtually display items instead of having theitems manually fixed/placed to a location or kiosk; (3b) automation ofstocking as “just in time”; (4a) using XR (e.g., any desired experienceor reality—for instance, virtual reality, augmented reality, holograms)and live experience for “try before buy”; consumer connection to productfor multi-sensory experience; one scan of product on supply intake; andexperience of product at other kiosk(s); (4b) linkage to secondaryassets (e.g., video “how-to”, vetted social content, etc.); (5)federating supply for viewing across different stores regardless ofinventory location (e.g., an in-person side to e-commerce/marketing).

As described herein, various embodiments provide for one or more of thefollowing: (1) planning—store layout can be dynamically computed byautomated recommendation and/or can be user-driven; for instance, when agiven user visits the retail venue/market itself, recommendations canopportunistically be made to both satisfy the primary customer (the“given user” in this example) as well as attract additional customers bysocialization—thus creating a “social gravity” around a product (e.g.,customer A at kiosk A likes certain things—one or more preferences ofcustomer A can be used to: i) show visualization(s) at kiosk B wherecustomer B is shopping and/or ii) deliver to kiosk B one or moreproducts; (2) shopping—facilitating on-demand stocking of productswithin a retail environment (instead of, for example, large, unused andexternal displays); XR experience of the individual products that may ormay not be located at a single retail service; (3)transaction—facilitating back-end delivery and stocking; for example,such delivery/stocking can comprise on-demand delivery to cars or homeswithout customer having to package and transport goods; in anotherexample, such delivery/stocking can comprise a process wherein acustomer leaves the store with some in-person fulfillment and somedeferred fulfillment; in various examples, delivery options can betailored to each customer's preferences.

As described herein, various embodiments provide for one or more of thefollowing: (1) inventory stocking can be personalized—for instance, eachkiosk/store is planned on demand by customer context; (2) the supplychain can be simplified because items can be provided at the customerlocation (e.g., at a particular shelf location) on-demand instead oftypical in-store stocking; (3) the supply chain efficiency can beimproved—thus mitigating costs of management; (4) inventory display andmanagement can be simplified—for instance, each item can be virtuallypopulated until needed; (5) sales can be optimized for each user bytheir own preference(s); (6) store footprint can be efficiently used—forinstance, each kiosk/stand/shelving unit can be dynamically stocked foreach user (or group of users); (6) enhanced marketing can be facilitatedvia opportunistic socialization—for instance, with gradual blending ofsimilar interests at a location, users may peer select to purchase itemsnot previously consumed; (7) leverage XR experience mechanisms (e.g.,images, 360 degree visualization, animations of content).

As described herein, various embodiments provide for enhancing anyretail experience and reducing supply chain complications by dynamicproduct delivery.

As described herein, various embodiments provide for one or more of thefollowing: (1) strong navigational suggestions for users (e.g., existingusers or new users) entering a store—for instance, as someone walks inthey can either be directly lead to a free kiosk or gradually directed(e.g., via AR, phone, etc.) to place where similar products are beingdisplayed; (2a) “store-as-a-service”—for instance, a modernized versionof a co-op where exploration of items in interactive environment isincluded as an extra service tier (or as a try-before-buy option) from aparticular vendor; (2b) allows multiple vendors to share a retail spacewith less overhead of running the retail space (e.g. AMAZON, BEST BUY,etc. can share a retail space to experiment with toys, computers insteadof having individual footprints); (3) deeper customer insights,including expansion to other shopping intents—for instance, withconstantly updating kiosks, allow users to explore their own needs aswell as blended needs from others that walk near their kiosk; (4)elimination/reduction of shoplifting and loss—for instance, removal oftraditional stocking methods with hands-on manipulation of objectsreduced and physical delivery of items delayed until confirmed intent tobuy, at store exit, or delivery to other location; and/or (5) alternatepurchasing experience—for instance, from individual items, have monthlyservice model, where seamless store inventory tracking (what waspurchased when) are billed in more convenient fashion.

As described herein, various embodiments provide for one or more of thefollowing: (1) more quickly respond to needs and/or wants of users (thiscan be accomplished, for example, given knowledge of products andavailability of other items); (2) take hands-off shopping experiences tothe next level and allow items the person usually shops for to beauto-populated by back-end machinery; (3) analysis of data (e.g., fromtwo or more people in line) in real-time to stock one or more items; (3)enable people to be self-navigated; (4) making one or morerecommendations to a customer walking into a store based on priorsimilar purchase habits (by that customer and/or by other customers);(5) self-driving mobility within the store—for instance, can use A/Btesting to direct a person among different directions based onrecommendations and options along those paths; (6) application to one ormore people based upon certain physical characteristics (e.g., childrenwill likely be looking lower on a shelf unit as compared to adults;identify the height of the individual to optimally place where on theshelf unit the product is placed); (7) optimize where a person goesbased on similarity to others (recommendations can also be used asinputs to avoid restocking all over); (8) a “big box” commerceexperience combined with micro location and motion combined withindividual preference and history; (9) logistics chain behind theshelves that is controlled by a control system; (10) mix of both searchand discovery in the shopping context; (11) a “Face-time” likeexperience with a potential purchase (e.g., a robot-type manipulatormoves the product around while the customer gives commands like “let mesee the top of the box” and/or asks the system questions like “how heavyis the product”; (12) a “robot friend” mechanism (e.g., including a“personalized” mechanism that remembers a given customer and customizesitself to your personality and preferences).

As described herein, various embodiments provide for enablement ofsupply-chain robots to fetch each customer's favorite items. In onespecific example, various food items can be fetched and placed into a“personalized foods” stocking area for a customer named “Joe”. Thisstocking area feeds to the shelves of a store; the shelves in that storedynamically indicate the name “Joe's Favorites”. Joe picks up the itemsfrom “Joe's Favorites” and leaves the store (facilitated, for example,by an automated purchase flow). Items get un-stocked (removed) from theshelves and the process repeats for future visitors. In one specificexample, the “Joe's Favorites” items are so popular that other peoplekeep grabbing them and Joe gains local celebrity as being the basis of abest-selling area.

As described herein, various embodiments provide for: (1) enablement ofshallow depth of items in stock—for instance, just-in-time population ofshelves; (2) linkage to other stores—for instance, more interactionsbecause you can see and interact with the item(s); (3) personalizedshelf placement (e.g., shuffle for people in aisle); (4) VR/AR stackthat is dynamically populated—e.g., a bookshelf-sized kiosk that getspopulated; (5) a display that can let the user use gestures to “swipe”to see related items; (6) a mechanism wherein if a user wants to see aphysical item, the physical item is moved to the user's shelf/kioskdynamically by back-end robotics; (7) enables a user to see into otherstores and see collective of others; (8) linking to other cultures andenvironments to more easily explore; (9) personalized experience and/orattracting people to the experience; (10) socialization of the displays;(11) grouping similar products that would then populate on the side of auser's display to show blending of preferences; (12) keywords for whatsomeone is looking at when they browse some section; (13) motivatingpeople to walk around the store and discover other types of content;(14) seeding by initial profile and/or queries as someone walks up tothe display; (15) alternate point of purchase option; and/or (16)“store-as-a-service”—for instance, come to a nondescript (unbranded orco-branded) location to allow exploration of items.

In various embodiments, users can opt-in to various features (e.g.,identification and location tracking) described herein.

In various embodiments, users can opt-out of various features (e.g.,identification and location tracking) described herein.

As described herein, mechanisms are provided to guide users throughpassages (e.g., through aisles between shelving units) in a store. Inone example, the guidance can be via an end user device (e.g., asmartphone, a tablet).

In various embodiments, one or more on-line forums (such as user forums)can be provided (such as at a location of a product). In one example,the forums can be controlled by a marketing organization or department.In one example, the forums can host one or more demonstrations. In oneexample, a forum can be invite-only. In one example, a forum can be opento anyone desiring to enter.

In various embodiments, one or more on-line “panel discussions” can beprovided (such as at a location of a product). In one example, the paneldiscussions can be controlled by a marketing organization or department.In one example, the panel discussions can host one or moredemonstrations. In one example, a panel discussion can be invite-only.In one example, a panel discussion can be open to anyone desiring toenter.

In various embodiments a system (or systems) can coordinate the timingof various processes described herein.

In various embodiments a transaction fulfillment can comprise deliveryto the customer at a “pop-up” store, delivery to a customer's house,delivery to a customer's car (e.g., in a parking lot), or anycombination thereof.

In various embodiments a transaction fulfillment can comprise a customershopping and then when done shopping picking up all items selectedduring the given shopping trip from a single location.

In various embodiments a transaction fulfillment can comprise digitalfulfillment and/or physical fulfillment.

In various embodiments a transaction fulfillment can comprise physicalfulfillment by one or more products being placed in a locker; by one ormore products being placed via use of a false wall, by one or moreproducts being placed via use of a robot (or similar device); by one ormore products being placed via use of an air tube (or similar device),or any combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication networkin accordance with various aspects described herein. In particular avirtualized communication network is presented that can be used toimplement some or all of the subsystems and functions of communicationnetwork 100, the subsystems and functions of methods 2000, 2100, 2200.2300, 2400, 2500 presented in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F. Forexample, virtualized communication network 300 can facilitate in wholeor in part presentation of in-store visualizations and/or supply ofproducts to customers as described herein.

In particular, a cloud networking architecture is shown that leveragescloud technologies and supports rapid innovation and scalability via atransport layer 350, a virtualized network function cloud 325 and/or oneor more cloud computing environments 375. In various embodiments, thiscloud networking architecture is an open architecture that leveragesapplication programming interfaces (APIs); reduces complexity fromservices and operations; supports more nimble business models; andrapidly and seamlessly scales to meet evolving customer requirementsincluding traffic growth, diversity of traffic types, and diversity ofperformance and reliability expectations.

In contrast to traditional network elements—which are typicallyintegrated to perform a single function, the virtualized communicationnetwork employs virtual network elements (VNEs) 330, 332, 334, etc. thatperform some or all of the functions of network elements 150, 152, 154,156, etc. For example, the network architecture can provide a substrateof networking capability, often called Network Function VirtualizationInfrastructure (NFVI) or simply infrastructure that is capable of beingdirected with software and Software Defined Networking (SDN) protocolsto perform a broad variety of network functions and services. Thisinfrastructure can include several types of substrates. The most typicaltype of substrate being servers that support Network FunctionVirtualization (NFV), followed by packet forwarding capabilities basedon generic computing resources, with specialized network technologiesbrought to bear when general purpose processors or general purposeintegrated circuit devices offered by merchants (referred to herein asmerchant silicon) are not appropriate. In this case, communicationservices can be implemented as cloud-centric workloads.

As an example, a traditional network element 150 (shown in FIG. 1), suchas an edge router can be implemented via a VNE 330 composed of NFVsoftware modules, merchant silicon, and associated controllers. Thesoftware can be written so that increasing workload consumes incrementalresources from a common resource pool, and moreover so that it'selastic: so the resources are only consumed when needed. In a similarfashion, other network elements such as other routers, switches, edgecaches, and middle-boxes are instantiated from the common resource pool.Such sharing of infrastructure across a broad set of uses makes planningand growing infrastructure easier to manage.

In an embodiment, the transport layer 350 includes fiber, cable, wiredand/or wireless transport elements, network elements and interfaces toprovide broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130,media access 140 and/or access to content sources 175 for distributionof content to any or all of the access technologies. In particular, insome cases a network element needs to be positioned at a specific place,and this allows for less sharing of common infrastructure. Other times,the network elements have specific physical layer adapters that cannotbe abstracted or virtualized, and might require special DSP code andanalog front-ends (AFEs) that do not lend themselves to implementationas VNEs 330, 332 or 334. These network elements can be included intransport layer 350.

The virtualized network function cloud 325 interfaces with the transportlayer 350 to provide the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide specificNFVs. In particular, the virtualized network function cloud 325leverages cloud operations, applications, and architectures to supportnetworking workloads. The virtualized network elements 330, 332 and 334can employ network function software that provides either a one-for-onemapping of traditional network element function or alternately somecombination of network functions designed for cloud computing. Forexample, VNEs 330, 332 and 334 can include route reflectors, domain namesystem (DNS) servers, and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)servers, system architecture evolution (SAE) and/or mobility managemententity (MME) gateways, broadband network gateways, IP edge routers forIP-VPN, Ethernet and other services, load balancers, distributers andother network elements. Because these elements don't typically need toforward large amounts of traffic, their workload can be distributedacross a number of servers—each of which adds a portion of thecapability, and overall which creates an elastic function with higheravailability than its former monolithic version. These virtual networkelements 330, 332, 334, etc. can be instantiated and managed using anorchestration approach similar to those used in cloud compute services.

The cloud computing environments 375 can interface with the virtualizednetwork function cloud 325 via APIs that expose functional capabilitiesof the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide the flexible and expandedcapabilities to the virtualized network function cloud 325. Inparticular, network workloads may have applications distributed acrossthe virtualized network function cloud 325 and cloud computingenvironment 375 and in the commercial cloud, or might simply orchestrateworkloads supported entirely in NFV infrastructure from these thirdparty locations.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein. In order to provide additional context for various embodimentsof the embodiments described herein, FIG. 4 and the following discussionare intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitablecomputing environment 400 in which the various embodiments of thesubject disclosure can be implemented. In particular, computingenvironment 400 can be used in the implementation of network elements150, 152, 154, 156, access terminal 112, base station or access point122, switching device 132, media terminal 142, and/or VNEs 330, 332,334, etc. Each of these devices can be implemented viacomputer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers,and/or in combination with other program modules and/or as a combinationof hardware and software. For example, computing environment 400 canfacilitate in whole or in part presentation of in-store visualizationsand/or supply of products to customers as described herein.

Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

As used herein, a processing circuit includes one or more processors aswell as other application specific circuits such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit, digital logic circuit, state machine,programmable gate array or other circuit that processes input signals ordata and that produces output signals or data in response thereto. Itshould be noted that while any functions and features described hereinin association with the operation of a processor could likewise beperformed by a processing circuit.

The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be alsopracticed in distributed computing environments where certain tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media, which cancomprise computer-readable storage media and/or communications media,which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and comprises both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured dataor unstructured data.

Computer-readable storage media can comprise, but are not limited to,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digitalversatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devicesor other tangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to storedesired information. In this regard, the terms “tangible” or“non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory orcomputer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude onlypropagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquishrights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media thatare not only propagating transitory signals per se.

Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local orremote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or otherdata retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect tothe information stored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and comprises any informationdelivery or transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signalsrefers to a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set orchanged in such a manner as to encode information in one or moresignals. By way of example, and not limitation, communication mediacomprise wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 4, the example environment can comprise acomputer 402, the computer 402 comprising a processing unit 404, asystem memory 406 and a system bus 408. The system bus 408 couplessystem components including, but not limited to, the system memory 406to the processing unit 404. The processing unit 404 can be any ofvarious commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors andother multiprocessor architectures can also be employed as theprocessing unit 404.

The system bus 408 can be any of several types of bus structure that canfurther interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 406comprises ROM 410 and RAM 412. A basic input/output system (BIOS) can bestored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines thathelp to transfer information between elements within the computer 402,such as during startup. The RAM 412 can also comprise a high-speed RAMsuch as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 402 further comprises an internal hard disk drive (HDD) 414(e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal HDD 414 can also be configured forexternal use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy diskdrive (FDD) 416, (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette418) and an optical disk drive 420, (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk 422 or,to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such as theDVD). The HDD 414, magnetic FDD 416 and optical disk drive 420 can beconnected to the system bus 408 by a hard disk drive interface 424, amagnetic disk drive interface 426 and an optical drive interface 428,respectively. The hard disk drive interface 424 for external driveimplementations comprises at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus(USB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394interface technologies. Other external drive connection technologies arewithin contemplation of the embodiments described herein.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 402, the drives and storagemedia accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable storage media above refersto a hard disk drive (HDD), a removable magnetic diskette, and aremovable optical media such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that other types of storage media which arereadable by a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flashmemory cards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the exampleoperating environment, and further, that any such storage media cancontain computer-executable instructions for performing the methodsdescribed herein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 412,comprising an operating system 430, one or more application programs432, other program modules 434 and program data 436. All or portions ofthe operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 412. The systems and methods described herein can beimplemented utilizing various commercially available operating systemsor combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 402 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 438 and apointing device, such as a mouse 440. Other input devices (not shown)can comprise a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick,a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen or the like. These and otherinput devices are often connected to the processing unit 404 through aninput device interface 442 that can be coupled to the system bus 408,but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, anIEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port,an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 444 or other type of display device can be also connected tothe system bus 408 via an interface, such as a video adapter 446. Itwill also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a monitor 444can also be any display device (e.g., another computer having a display,a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.) for receiving displayinformation associated with computer 402 via any communication means,including via the Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to themonitor 444, a computer typically comprises other peripheral outputdevices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 402 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 448. The remotecomputer(s) 448 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallycomprises many or all of the elements described relative to the computer402, although, for purposes of brevity, only a remote memory/storagedevice 450 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprisewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 452 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 454. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich can connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 402 can beconnected to the LAN 452 through a wired and/or wireless communicationnetwork interface or adapter 456. The adapter 456 can facilitate wiredor wireless communication to the LAN 452, which can also comprise awireless AP disposed thereon for communicating with the adapter 456.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 402 can comprisea modem 458 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN454 or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 454,such as by way of the Internet. The modem 458, which can be internal orexternal and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the systembus 408 via the input device interface 442. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the computer 402 or portionsthereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 450. It willbe appreciated that the network connections shown are example and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers can beused.

The computer 402 can be operable to communicate with any wirelessdevices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication,e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portabledata assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment orlocation associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk,news stand, restroom), and telephone. This can comprise WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, thecommunication can be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at home, a bedin a hotel room or a conference room at work, without wires. Wi-Fi is awireless technology similar to that used in a cell phone that enablessuch devices, e.g., computers, to send and receive data indoors and out;anywhere within the range of a base station. Wi-Fi networks use radiotechnologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, ac, ag, etc.) to providesecure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can beused to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wirednetworks (which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operatein the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands for example or with productsthat contain both bands (dual band), so the networks can providereal-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernetnetworks used in many offices.

Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment 500 of a mobile network platform510 is shown that is an example of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156,and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. For example, platform 510 can facilitatein whole or in part presentation of in-store visualizations and/orsupply of products to customers as described herein. In one or moreembodiments, the mobile network platform 510 can generate and receivesignals transmitted and received by base stations or access points suchas base station or access point 122. Generally, mobile network platform510 can comprise components, e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers,or disparate platforms, that facilitate both packet-switched (PS) (e.g.,internet protocol (IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM))and circuit-switched (CS) traffic (e.g., voice and data), as well ascontrol generation for networked wireless telecommunication. As anon-limiting example, mobile network platform 510 can be included intelecommunications carrier networks, and can be considered carrier-sidecomponents as discussed elsewhere herein. Mobile network platform 510comprises CS gateway node(s) 512 which can interface CS traffic receivedfrom legacy networks like telephony network(s) 540 (e.g., publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN))or a signaling system #7 (SS7) network 560. CS gateway node(s) 512 canauthorize and authenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from suchnetworks. Additionally, CS gateway node(s) 512 can access mobility, orroaming, data generated through SS7 network 560; for instance, mobilitydata stored in a visited location register (VLR), which can reside inmemory 530. Moreover, CS gateway node(s) 512 interfaces CS-based trafficand signaling and PS gateway node(s) 518. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTSnetwork, CS gateway node(s) 512 can be realized at least in part ingateway GPRS support node(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated thatfunctionality and specific operation of CS gateway node(s) 512, PSgateway node(s) 518, and serving node(s) 516, is provided and dictatedby radio technology(ies) utilized by mobile network platform 510 fortelecommunication over a radio access network 520 with other devices,such as a radiotelephone 575.

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic andsignaling, PS gateway node(s) 518 can authorize and authenticatePS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions cancomprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to themobile network platform 510, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 550,enterprise network(s) 570, and service network(s) 580, which can beembodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced withmobile network platform 510 through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to benoted that WANs 550 and enterprise network(s) 570 can embody, at leastin part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Basedon radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) orradio access network 520, PS gateway node(s) 518 can generate packetdata protocol contexts when a data session is established; other datastructures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can begenerated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 518 cancomprise a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetizedcommunication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Finetworks.

In embodiment 500, mobile network platform 510 also comprises servingnode(s) 516 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) withintechnology resource(s) in the radio access network 520, convey thevarious packetized flows of data streams received through PS gatewaynode(s) 518. It is to be noted that for technology resource(s) that relyprimarily on CS communication, server node(s) can deliver trafficwithout reliance on PS gateway node(s) 518; for example, server node(s)can embody at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, ina 3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s) 516 can be embodied in serving GPRSsupport node(s) (SGSN).

For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s)514 in mobile network platform 510 can execute numerous applicationsthat can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows,and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format . . . ) such flows. Suchapplication(s) can comprise add-on features to standard services (forexample, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided bymobile network platform 510. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that arepart of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gatewaynode(s) 518 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a datasession, and to serving node(s) 516 for communication thereafter. Inaddition to application server, server(s) 514 can comprise utilityserver(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning server, anoperations and maintenance server, a security server that can implementat least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as othersecurity mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s)secure communication served through mobile network platform 510 toensure network's operation and data integrity in addition toauthorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 512and PS gateway node(s) 518 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s)can provision services from external network(s) like networks operatedby a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN 550 or GlobalPositioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s)can also provision coverage through networks associated to mobilenetwork platform 510 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same serviceprovider), such as the distributed antennas networks shown in FIG. 1that enhance wireless service coverage by providing more networkcoverage.

It is to be noted that server(s) 514 can comprise one or more processorsconfigured to confer at least in part the functionality of mobilenetwork platform 510. To that end, the one or more processor can executecode instructions stored in memory 530, for example. It is should beappreciated that server(s) 514 can comprise a content manager, whichoperates in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore.

In example embodiment 500, memory 530 can store information related tooperation of mobile network platform 510. Other operational informationcan comprise provisioning information of mobile devices served throughmobile network platform 510, subscriber databases; applicationintelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates, flat-rateprograms, couponing campaigns; technical specification(s) consistentwith telecommunication protocols for operation of disparate radio, orwireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory 530 can also storeinformation from at least one of telephony network(s) 540, WAN 550, SS7network 560, or enterprise network(s) 570. In an aspect, memory 530 canbe, for example, accessed as part of a data store component or as aremotely connected memory store.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 5, and the following discussion, are intended toprovide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in whichthe various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented.While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on acomputer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination withother program modules. Generally, program modules comprise routines,programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particulartasks and/or implement particular abstract data types.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an illustrative embodiment of a communicationdevice 600 is shown. The communication device 600 can serve as anillustrative embodiment of devices such as data terminals 114, mobiledevices 124, vehicle 126, display devices 144 or other client devicesfor communication via either communications network 125. For example,computing device 600 can facilitate in whole or in part presentation ofin-store visualizations and/or supply of products to customers asdescribed herein.

The communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, apower supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion sensor 618, anorientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 602 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 600 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 608 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display610 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 600. In anembodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 608 can be presented by way of the display 610 withnavigation features.

The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 600 can be adapted to present a user interfacehaving graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by auser with a touch of a finger. The display 610 can be equipped withcapacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect howmuch surface area of a user's finger has been placed on a portion of thetouch screen display. This sensing information can be used to controlthe manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of the userinterface. The display 610 can be an integral part of the housingassembly of the communication device 600 or an independent devicecommunicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (suchas a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 612 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 612 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI604 can further include an image sensor 613 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 600 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable communications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 600 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 618can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device600 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 606 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 600.

Other components not shown in FIG. 6 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 600 can include a slot for adding or removing an identity modulesuch as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or Universal IntegratedCircuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can be used for identifyingsubscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and soon.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in theclaims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity only anddoesn't otherwise indicate or imply any order in time. For instance, “afirst determination,” “a second determination,” and “a thirddetermination,” does not indicate or imply that the first determinationis to be made before the second determination, or vice versa, etc.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “datastore,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any otherinformation storage component relevant to operation and functionality ofa component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a“memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciatedthat the memory components described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile andnonvolatile memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, disk storage, and memory storage. Further,nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory cancomprise random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cachememory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available inmany forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhancedSDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methodsherein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising,these and any other suitable types of memory.

Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter can bepracticed with other computer system configurations, comprisingsingle-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computingdevices, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-heldcomputing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, smartphone, watch, tabletcomputers, netbook computers, etc.), microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. Theillustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network; however, some if not allaspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alonecomputers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules canbe located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

In one or more embodiments, information regarding use of services can begenerated including services being accessed, media consumption history,user preferences, and so forth. This information can be obtained byvarious methods including user input, detecting types of communications(e.g., video content vs. audio content), analysis of content streams,sampling, and so forth. The generating, obtaining and/or monitoring ofthis information can be responsive to an authorization provided by theuser. In one or more embodiments, an analysis of data can be subject toauthorization from user(s) associated with the data, such as an opt-in,an opt-out, acknowledgement requirements, notifications, selectiveauthorization based on types of data, and so forth.

Some of the embodiments described herein can also employ artificialintelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more featuresdescribed herein. The embodiments (e.g., in connection withautomatically presenting in-store visualizations and/or supplyingproducts) can employ various AI-based schemes for carrying out variousembodiments thereof. Moreover, the classifier can be employed todetermine a ranking or priority of visualizations and/or products. Aclassifier is a function that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1, x2,x3, x4, . . . , xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class,that is, f(x)=confidence (class). Such classification can employ aprobabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring intothe analysis utilities and costs) to determine or infer an action that auser desires to be automatically performed. A support vector machine(SVM) is an example of a classifier that can be employed. The SVMoperates by finding a hypersurface in the space of possible inputs,which the hypersurface attempts to split the triggering criteria fromthe non-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes the classificationcorrect for testing data that is near, but not identical to trainingdata. Other directed and undirected model classification approachescomprise, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neuralnetworks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilistic classification modelsproviding different patterns of independence can be employed.Classification as used herein also is inclusive of statisticalregression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the embodiments canemploy classifiers that are explicitly trained (e.g., via a generictraining data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g., via observing UEbehavior, operator preferences, historical information, receivingextrinsic information). For example, SVMs can be configured via alearning or training phase within a classifier constructor and featureselection module. Thus, the classifier(s) can be used to automaticallylearn and perform a number of functions, including but not limited todetermining according to predetermined criteria which of the acquiredcell sites will benefit a maximum number of subscribers and/or which ofthe acquired cell sites will add minimum value to the existingcommunication network coverage, etc.

As used in some contexts in this application, in some embodiments, theterms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, orcomprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to anoperational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, whereinthe entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. As an example, a componentmay be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution,computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By wayof illustration and not limitation, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components mayreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component maybe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In addition, these components can execute from variouscomputer readable media having various data structures stored thereon.The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such asin accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., datafrom one component interacting with another component in a local system,distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet withother systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be anapparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical partsoperated by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by asoftware or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein theprocessor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes atleast a part of the software or firmware application. As yet anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus that provides specificfunctionality through electronic components without mechanical parts,the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to executesoftware or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality ofthe electronic components. While various components have beenillustrated as separate components, it will be appreciated that multiplecomponents can be implemented as a single component, or a singlecomponent can be implemented as multiple components, without departingfrom example embodiments.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method,apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device or computer-readable storage/communicationsmedia. For example, computer readable storage media can include, but arenot limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk,magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digitalversatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g.,card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art willrecognize many modifications can be made to this configuration withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

In addition, the words “example” and “exemplary” are used herein to meanserving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or designdescribed herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments ordesigns. Rather, use of the word example or exemplary is intended topresent concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, theterm “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive“or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “Xemploys A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusivepermutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both Aand B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoinginstances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in thisapplication and the appended claims should generally be construed tomean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context tobe directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms such as “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,”subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” “mobiledevice” (and/or terms representing similar terminology) can refer to awireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wirelesscommunication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video,sound, gaming or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. Theforegoing terms are utilized interchangeably herein and with referenceto the related drawings.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer” andthe like are employed interchangeably throughout, unless contextwarrants particular distinctions among the terms. It should beappreciated that such terms can refer to human entities or automatedcomponents supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., a capacityto make inference based, at least, on complex mathematical formalisms),which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth.

As employed herein, the term “processor” can refer to substantially anycomputing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited tocomprising, single-core processors; single-processors with softwaremultithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-coreprocessors with software multithread execution capability; multi-coreprocessors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; andparallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, aprocessor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), acomplex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistorlogic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designedto perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploitnano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular andquantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimizespace usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor canalso be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

As used herein, terms such as “data storage,” “database,” andsubstantially any other information storage component relevant tooperation and functionality of a component, refer to “memorycomponents,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprisingthe memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components orcomputer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory.

What has been described above includes mere examples of variousembodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing these examples, but one of ordinary skill in the art canrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the presentembodiments are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and/orclaimed herein are intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes”is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term isintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates thebeginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by otheractivities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indicationreflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/ormay be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further,while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, otherorderings are likewise possible provided that the principles ofcausality are maintained.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupledto”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/orindirect coupling between items via one or more intervening items. Suchitems and intervening items include, but are not limited to, junctions,communication paths, components, circuit elements, circuits, functionalblocks, and/or devices. As an example of indirect coupling, a signalconveyed from a first item to a second item may be modified by one ormore intervening items by modifying the form, nature or format ofinformation in a signal, while one or more elements of the informationin the signal are nevertheless conveyed in a manner than can berecognized by the second item. In a further example of indirectcoupling, an action in a first item can cause a reaction on the seconditem, as a result of actions and/or reactions in one or more interveningitems.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: a processing systemincluding a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance ofoperations, the operations comprising: identifying a first shopper whohas entered into a store, resulting in a first identification;generating, based upon the first identification, a first layout, thefirst layout comprising for each of a plurality of display screenssituated along a route a respective visualization to be displayed, eachrespective visualization being part of a plurality of visualizations;responsive to receiving first motion data from a monitoring device,detecting first movement by the first shopper to a first location thatis proximal to a first display screen of the plurality of displayscreens; responsive to the detecting of the first movement by the firstshopper to the first location, providing on the first display screen afirst visualization of the plurality of visualizations; responsive toreceiving second motion data from the monitoring device, detectingsecond movement by the first shopper to a second location that isdifferent from the first location and that is proximal to a seconddisplay screen of the plurality of display screens; and responsive tothe detecting of the second movement by the first shopper to the secondlocation, providing on the second display screen a second visualizationof the plurality of visualizations, the second visualization beingdifferent from the first visualization.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein the identifying of the first shopper further comprises applyingfacial recognition to the first shopper by the monitoring device, viabiometric detection applied to the first shopper by the monitoringdevice, via communication by the monitoring device with a smartphoneutilized by the first shopper, via communication by the monitoringdevice with a radio frequency identification device (RFID) carried bythe first shopper, or any combination thereof.
 3. The device of claim 1,wherein: the first identification comprises identification of a name ofthe first shopper, identification of account information associated withthe first shopper, or any combination thereof; and the monitoring devicecomprises a camera, a communication device that facilitates wirelesscoupling to a smartphone, an RFID reader, or any combination thereof. 4.The device of claim 1, wherein the first layout is generated based uponone or more preferences associated with the first shopper, based a firstprofile associated with the first shopper, based upon another profileassociated with another person who is associated with the first shopper,or any combination thereof.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the firstdisplay screen comprises a first kiosk display screen, wherein thesecond display screen comprises a second kiosk display screen, andwherein each visualization comprises a respective still image, arespective video, or any combination thereof.
 6. The device of claim 1,wherein each visualization further comprises respective audio.
 7. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the detecting the first movement by the firstshopper to the first location comprises detecting that the first shopperhas moved into a line-of-sight orientation relative to the first displayscreen.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein: the detecting the firstmovement by the first shopper to the first location is performed viafacial recognition applied to the first shopper by the monitoringdevice, via biometric detection applied to the first shopper by themonitoring device, via communication by the monitoring device with asmartphone utilized by the first shopper, via communication by themonitoring device with a radio frequency identification device (RFID)carried by the first shopper, or any combination thereof; and thedetecting the second movement by the first shopper to the secondlocation is performed via facial recognition applied to the firstshopper by the monitoring device, via biometric detection applied to thefirst shopper by the monitoring device, via communication by themonitoring device with a smartphone utilized by the first shopper, viacommunication by the monitoring device with a radio frequencyidentification device (RFID) carried by the first shopper, or anycombination thereof.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: identifying a second shopper who enters the store,resulting in a second identification; generating, based upon the secondidentification, a second layout that is different from the first layout,the second layout comprising for each of another plurality of displayscreens situated along another route another respective visualization tobe displayed, each of the another respective visualizations being partof another plurality of visualizations; responsive to receiving thirdmotion data from the monitoring device, detecting third movement by thesecond shopper to a third location that is proximal to a third displayscreen of the another plurality of display screens; responsive to thedetecting of the third movement by the second shopper to the thirdlocation, providing on the third display screen a third visualization ofthe another plurality of visualizations; responsive to receiving fourthmotion data from the monitoring device, detecting fourth movement by thesecond shopper to a fourth location that is different from the thirdlocation and that is proximal to a fourth display screen of the anotherplurality of display screens; and responsive to the detecting of thefourth movement by the second shopper to the fourth location, providingon the fourth display screen a fourth visualization of the anotherplurality of visualizations, the fourth visualization being differentfrom the third visualization.
 10. A method, comprising: identifying by aprocessing system including a processor a first shopper who has enteredinto a store, resulting in a first identification; generating by theprocessing system, based upon the first identification, a first layout,the first layout comprising for each of a plurality of locationssituated along a route a respective visualization to be displayed, eachrespective visualization being part of a plurality of visualizations;responsive to receiving first motion data from a monitoring device,detecting, by the processing system, that the first shopper has moved toa first location in the store; responsive to the detecting that thefirst shopper has moved to the first location, providing by theprocessing system to a first mobile device of the first shopper a firstvisualization of the plurality of visualizations; responsive toreceiving second motion data from the monitoring device, detecting, bythe processing system, that the first shopper has moved to a secondlocation in the store, the second location being different from thefirst location; and responsive to the detecting that the first shopperhas moved to the second location, providing by the processing system tothe first mobile device of the first shopper a second visualization ofthe plurality of visualizations.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thefirst mobile device comprises a smartphone, a tablet, a notebookcomputer, a laptop computer, or any combination thereof.
 12. The methodof claim 10, wherein: the first location is proximal to a first in-storedisplay unit at which a first product, being presented in the firstvisualization, is made available to the first shopper for pick-up; andthe second location is proximal to a second in-store display unit atwhich a second product, being presented in the second visualization, ismade available to the first shopper for pick-up.
 13. The method of claim12, wherein: the first product is made available to the first shopperfor pick-up at the first in-store display unit dynamically, responsiveto the generating of the first layout; and the second product is madeavailable to the first shopper for pick-up at the second in-storedisplay unit dynamically, responsive to the generating of the firstlayout.
 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising: identifying bythe processing system a second shopper who has entered into the store,resulting in a second identification; generating by the processingsystem, based upon the second identification, a second layout, thesecond layout comprising for each of another plurality of locationssituated along another route another respective visualization to bedisplayed, each of the another respective visualizations being part ofanother plurality of visualizations; responsive to receiving thirdmotion data from the monitoring device, detecting, by the processingsystem, that the second shopper has moved to a third location in thestore; responsive to the detecting that the second shopper has moved tothe third location, providing by the processing system to a secondmobile device of the second shopper a third visualization of the anotherplurality of visualizations; responsive to receiving fourth motion datafrom the monitoring device, detecting, by the processing system, thatthe second shopper has moved to a fourth location in the store, thefourth location being different from the third location; and responsiveto the detecting that the second shopper has moved to the fourthlocation, providing by the processing system to the second mobile deviceof the second shopper a fourth visualization of the another plurality ofvisualizations.
 15. A machine-readable medium comprising executableinstructions that, when executed by a processing system including aprocessor, facilitate performance of operations, the operationscomprising: identifying a first shopper of a plurality of shoppers whohas entered into a store, resulting in a first identification;generating, based upon the first identification, a first stocking plan,the first stocking plan comprising for each of a plurality of areasalong a route a respective product of a plurality of products that is tobe dynamically made available; responsive to receiving first motion datafrom a monitoring device, determining that the first shopper is movingto a first area of the plurality of areas; responsive to the determiningthat the first shopper is moving to the first area, dynamicallyproviding in the first area a first product of the plurality ofproducts; responsive to receiving second motion data from the monitoringdevice, determining that the first shopper is moving to a second area ofthe plurality of areas, the second area being different from the firstarea; and responsive to the determining that the first shopper is movingto the second area, dynamically providing in the second area a secondproduct of the plurality of products, the second product being differentfrom the first product.
 16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15,wherein: the dynamically providing in the first area the first productcomprises providing the first product in the first area before orconcurrently with a first time that the first shopper has moved to thefirst area; and the dynamically providing in the second area the secondproduct comprises providing the second product in the second area beforeor concurrently a second time that the first shopper has moved to thesecond area.
 17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein: thedynamically providing in the first area the first product comprisesproviding the first product in the first area in real-time as the firstshopper is moving to the first area; and the dynamically providing inthe second area the second product comprises providing the secondproduct in the second area in real-time as the first shopper is movingto the second area.
 18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17,wherein: the first product is provided in the first area in real-time bymanual placement of the first product, by automated placement of thefirst product, or by any combination thereof; and the second product isprovided in the second area in real-time by manual placement of thesecond product, by automated placement of the second product, or by anycombination thereof.
 19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18,wherein: the automated placement of the first product is performed by afirst robotic device; and the automated placement of the second productis performed by a second robotic device.
 20. The machine-readable mediumof claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise: receivingadditional information associated with a second shopper of the pluralityof shoppers from the monitoring device; determining, according to theadditional information, a second identity of the second shopper who hasentered into the store, resulting in a second identification;generating, based upon the second identification, a second stockingplan, the second stocking plan comprising for each of another pluralityof areas along another route another respective product of anotherplurality of products that is to be dynamically made available;responsive to receiving third motion data from the monitoring device,determining that the second shopper is moving to a third area of theanother plurality of areas; responsive to the determining that thesecond shopper is moving to the third area, dynamically providing in thethird area a third product of the another plurality of products;responsive to receiving fourth motion data from the monitoring device,determining that the second shopper is moving to a fourth area of theanother plurality of areas, the fourth area being different from thethird area; and responsive to the determining that the second shopper ismoving to the fourth area, dynamically providing in the fourth area afourth product of the another plurality of products, the fourth productbeing different from the third product.